Full Circle--home to California

Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Tombstone, AZ again
Wells Fargo RV Park

Stayed last night at Las Cruces KOA again. Horrible winds—55mph. Even got some sea sickness from all the trailer swaying. The wind blew the off vent cover for the bathroom in the gale. I improvised a cover for the inside of the RV by taking an aluminum 9x13 baking pan, slitting the corners and using duct tape to push it up in the hollow of the vent dome. This was the worst day of driving so far. I had to fight strong winds the whole time and it was exhausting. It was an ugly drive.



Thursday, April 12, 2007
Tombstone, AZ

Second night here at the old Wells Fargo RV Park. The first night was fine but this afternoon a HUMUNGOUS 5th wheel pulled in and by the time they got their pop-outs out, they were practically up against the Minnie! Then the couple left and their dog has barked CONSTANTLY since. On top of that, the wind is blowing so hard—which is why I’m here for a second night—that the levelers got knocked out from under the rig. I still have

motion sickness but couldn’t get a nap because of the barking dog 3 feet from the couch. I finally went and left a note on their door. The wind has actually picked up and is even worse. Their rig is so HUGE that I think it’s blocking my wifi connection. I had a great connection until they pulled in. I feel like I’m going bonkers. All the negativity is flooding back over me and spoiling the good times glow I had been feeling until I left Texas. Was it coming back or has it just been awful weather and travel experience? I don’t have a clue. I just know I’d like to bite someone right now.

I am most annoyed that this place advertises wifi but doesn’t come through with it. Same thing happened at Fort Stockton. They shouldn’t lure people in with promises they can’t keep. It matters so much to me because I’m really enjoying working on the blog and checking in with my cyber friends in chat. I like to check weather for driving, email, communicate, all that stuff and I’m clean cut off here. Can’t leave, can’t call, can’t email and can’t get rid of the neighbors! Claustrophobia sets in fast—and then add sea sick in Tombstone, Arizona, it all sounds ridiculous. I’ll laugh later—not now. Right now I just want to get thru this night and get out of Dodge—I mean Tombstone.

April 13, 2007
Holy Resurrection Monastery
Michael’s 34th birthday

Last night only got worse. I fell asleep on the couch watching the tv. I awoke around 1am because of seasickness. I was trying to get my bearings and realized the wind was really blowing hard. It blew so hard that the levelers gave way and the RV dropped. Then I realized that I was hearing noise on the roof—lots of noise. It was pouring rain. All I could think of was the missing vent cover in the bathroom. I went in and found water leaking past the cake pan stuffed up in the cover. Then I realized that my pajamas were wet—apparently the wind sometime in the night had blown off the vent cover over the bed and the rain was pouring in. The bed was soaked, the covers, the pillows—what a mess. I found some tin foil—cheap and too thin—and the faithful duct tape and went to work improvising a cover. It was hard—the wind kept tearing the cheap foil and I was getting wetter and wetter. I got a lame cover worked out and then pulled out all the towels in the rig and laid them across the bed and put my rain poncho over the whole thing. Then I added the rugs I still had left from Llano and then taped a paper bag over the vent hole. I was freezing, wet and very discouraged. I pulled out the couch into a bed, found one dry pillow and got down my old sleeping bag and curled up in that. I got about 4 hours sleep and by 7am was on the road out of Tombstone. It was cold, very windy and the mountains were dusted with snow!!!

I pulled over into a McDonald’s just outside of Tucson. The gas station wouldn’t work and it was crowded inside. I brought out a hot cup of coffee and my egg cheese McGriddle. I put it down on the couch while I got the coffee in the holder, turned around and there was Byrdie sitting on my McGriddle!!! I shrieked at her. This was turning out to be a very bad day. She still hadn’t had her morning run so when I finally found an empty field on the other side of Tucson I pulled off the freeway to let her run. Not in that field!! Cops, firetruck and coroner were there—dead body in that field. So I got lost in some Podunk place but finally found an abandoned hotel parking lot to let her out in to do her business and work off some of her anxiety.

By this time the weather forecast was for another big wind storm to come in so I decided to make it all the way to California today. What a long drive.

The ocotillo were really blooming this time in Arizona. There was just no opportunity to get off the freeway and get some photos. That really is an

I wonder what I will have learned from this. I suspect not very much—except I really liked the hill country of Texas. When I get home to my own computer I will post more trip photos. I hope you have enjoyed this trip journal and will email me with your comments. Y'all come back now, hear?